Tips for cooling your car in the summer, no AC - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

iikhod · 05-15-2018, 12:38 PM

How do you people keep your cars cool in the heat?
Especially non AC cars

I mean effective ways to cool it when you don't have a chance to park in the shade for example.

deluxx · 05-15-2018, 03:59 PM

I was thinking about getting that to throw over the car and leaving the windows down if its going to be parked a while. White fabric over the seats. I was also thinking about making a small swamp cooler with a 12v fan a insulated cooler and some ice for long trips if my dog is in the car. A blast of the hose before you leave helps too but don't spray the hood and cool the engine.

oil pan 4 · 05-15-2018, 04:17 PM

I made a topic on this a few years back.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ing-32417.html

I have seen the ice cooler and fan thing on face book. I think it's stupid and won't do anything.

Difference is, my idea actually works.

mpg_numbers_guy · 05-15-2018, 11:49 PM

Park in the shade...crack your windows so your car doesn't get much hotter than the outside temp...dress for the weather of your car and live with it!

Think of each drop of sweat as being worth 0.1 MPG.

On the other hand, temps here haven't gotten above upper 70s yet (Fahrenheit) so I can't really pretend to be all tough and stuff.

California98Civic · 05-16-2018, 01:18 AM

Heat and UV rejecting tint, windshield shade if you cannot park in the shade, windows slightly cracked to reduce heat buildup, drive with windows cracked about two or three inches.

Most importantly, I get a small freezer bag/box or a used plastic water bottle filled with iced water... and I will place it alternately behind my neck, lower back, under one leg on the seat. The ice makes a heat exchanger of your body's own blood circulation system. You will feel cooler while the ice lasts.

jcp123 · 05-16-2018, 01:19 AM

Hmm, never really thought about this. Cool Shirts came to mind. Pumps melted ice from a cooler through a vest you wear. I just get in and use the ol' 2/55 air conditioning. And endure. It actually helps me get acclimated to the nasty southern summers, so I don't much complain even though it's far from pleasant at times...

Probably should run my a/c for a bit to circulate the oil...

jamesqf · 05-16-2018, 02:41 PM

Spray bottle of water. Spray it on the seats, steering wheel, and dash when getting in after it's been parked. Also can spray yourself if it's really hot.

California98Civic · 05-16-2018, 04:48 PM

Oh! And that used plastic water bottle I mentioned in post #5 above? I prepare it this way: I crush it somewhat, fill it crushed, put the cap on tight, and freeze it crushed. Flatter like that, it rests behind my lower back, under my arm, behind my neck, or under my leg nicely. I keep it closed tight. When I get to another freezer, I just drop it in, closed and crushed... repeat... repeat... repeat. Low labor and almost no cost.

cRiPpLe_rOoStEr · 05-17-2018, 01:51 AM

Apart from leaving the windows partially open and the windshield shade (preferably the ones with a reflective foil on the outer side), I see some cars with a light-colored towel above the dash. Well, it may not be the most effective solution, but at least decreases heat absorption at the dash and some eventual heat radiation to the air venting pipes while the vehicle is running.

seifrob · 05-17-2018, 11:33 AM

I took foam with reflective foil sold as flexible insulation and cut it to the shape of my car windows and put it on the sunny side. It is held there by sunshades from dollar store ( mesh on wire ). I also glued velcro strips to an old emergency blanket and make a kind of heat shield on the roof, attaching them to my roof rails ( hey, if you cannot remove them, use them well...). Member oldtamiaphile actually glued some foil to his van roof and measured a noticeable temperature drop.